Merina Beach

The beach washed up close to the present day road for a long time until the harbour was built in 1881. Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff, the governor of Madras from 1881 to 1886, conceived and built the promenade along the beach and christened it the Marina in 1884. Eventually, the north-drifting current widened the beach to its present extent. The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty, jolly ambiance, and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, the beach and water has become polluted. A proliferation of plastic bags, human waste and other pollutants have rendered many parts of the beach unusable. In recent years, many voluntary organizations have taken up the task of cleaning up the Marina and protecting the ecosystem. Particular efforts include protection of Olive Ridley turtle nests along the Neelangarai section of the beach. Despite these problems, a visit to the Marina is considered a must for any tourist coming to Chennai.
On December 26, 2004, a tsunami caused by an earthquake struck the shores of Chennai at around 8:30 AM. The entire coastline of Chennai, including Marina beach, was affected. Sea water engulfed the entire Marina beach. Morning joggers and children playing cricket were among those affected. The worst hit was the fishing community settled near the beaches. The tsunami left 206 dead in Chennai and destroyed properties of people in the city. While recovery has been difficult, the fishing community has been hard at work rebuilding their treasured coastline to boost their morale and make the area attractive to vacationers. As the tsunami struck on a Sunday morning, casualties were fewer than they would have been in a evening when people throng the beach.